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TRAVEL ADVISORY; Vienna Waltzes To New Theme

Vienna is synonymous with waltzes, and it seems only fitting that the Austrian capital has some 300 balls a year. Next month they include the Coffeehouse Ball on Feb. 9, the Bonbon Ball on Feb. 11, the Magicians' Ball on Feb. 19 and 20 and the Magicians' Ball for Children on Feb. 20.

The most important ball, however, is the Vienna Opera Ball, which will be held at the State Opera House on Feb. 10. This year for the first time it will have a theme based on an opera or operetta. The theme for 1994 is "Die Fledermaus" by Johann Strauss.

The change to a themed ball does not mean the end of tradition, though: there will still be the grand entry of 200 debutantes and the formal dress code for attendees -- elegant gowns for women, white tie, tails and white carnations for men.

The ball will begin at 9 P.M. and end at 5 A.M. Up to 5,000 people will attend.

General admission is about $217 a person, calculated at a rate of 11.50 schillings to the dollar, but hundreds of spectator tickets are also available, and may be obtained from $13 to $61. Spectators sit in the balcony and gallery, and may not take part in the dancing. Box seats and tables for two start at about $348 and go up to $13,913 -- in addition to the cost of admission. Tickets in all categories were still available in early January.

For information on other Vienna balls, call the Austrian National Tourist Office in New York, (212) 944-6880.

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A version of this article appears in print on January 23, 1994, on Page 5005003 of the National edition with the headline: TRAVEL ADVISORY; Vienna Waltzes To New Theme. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe